UMUR
"Above the Mind of Morbidity" is an EP release by Finnish grindcore/death metal act Xysma. The EP was released through ComeBack Records in 1990. It´s the follow-up release to the April 1989 "Swarming of the Maggots" demo. Guitarist Olli Nurminen has been added to the lineup, making it possible for Janitor to concentrate solely on performing vocals.
Compared to the brutal, noisy, and savage grindcore sound of the "Swarming of the Maggots" demo, Xysma has opted for a more varied style of music on "Above the Mind of Morbidity". The pace has been lowered significantly so the tracks now feature both fast blasting sections and sludgy mid-paced death metal parts. There´s also the occasionally brutal groove found here and even a slow doomy part here and there. If a valid reference should be made it´s Carcass "Symphonies of Sickness" (November 1989, Earache Records) album which first comes to mind.
It´s audible that Xysma have grown as musicians since "Swarming of the Maggots", and they are now a tight playing unit, but it´s their creative songwriting which is most impressive. The Carcass influence is of course strong, but Xysma still bring a lot of their own ideas to the table, and you´ll find loads of killer riffs and irresistable brutal grooves on this EP, in addition to the depraved, juicy, and burbing growling vocals. It´s impossible not to feel the nasty sleaze and gory filth of it all while listening to "Above the Mind of Morbidity".
"Above the Mind of Morbidity" features a raw, brutal, and detailed sound production. It´s arguably a demo quality sound production (despite this being released as an EP), but the rawness and utter brutality of the sound perfectly suits the material. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is fully deserved and "Above the Mind of Morbidity" is without a doubt one of the most important and seminal releases from the early Finnish death metal scene.